Public meetings over fire service shake-up

A series of public meetings over the proposed shake-up of Norfolk's fire service will take place from next week.The plans by Norfolk Fire and Rescue Service, which would affect stations in Diss and Wymondham, would save �1.

A series of public meetings over the proposed shake-up of Norfolk's fire service will take place from next week.

The plans by Norfolk Fire and Rescue Service, which would affect stations in Diss and Wymondham, would save �1.5m a year and would result in the loss of 42 firefighter posts across the county.

Under the proposals in Norfolk County Council's draft safety plan, a second fire engine at Wymondham, Diss, Dereham, Cromer Sandringham, and Fakenham would be replaced with a smaller appliance.

A public meeting about the plans will take place at the Diss Corn Hall from 6pm on Wednesday July 7 and at Wymondham Leisure Centre at 6pm on August 3.

A 12 week consultation began on May 24 seeking the views of Norfolk residents, fire and rescue staff, staff representative bodies, elected members, and town and parish councils. The formal consultation will run until August 15.

The plans, which have been opposed by the Fire Brigades Union, would also see a new fire station in King's Lynn, the reduction in the number of crews in Norwich from five to four, and the relocation of a full-time crew from Great Yarmouth to Gorleston.

Harry Humphrey, cabinet member for fire and rescue at Norfolk County Council, said: 'We know the majority of fires in Norfolk where lives are put in danger are in people's homes. This plan will enable us to get to your home, wherever you live, as quickly as we do now and even quicker in some areas. We believe doing these things will help us continue to have the right resources in the right place at the right time.'

For more information, visit www.norfolkfireservice.gov.uk.